Ex-Russian spy who was MI6 double agent fights for life after ‘being poisoned’ in Salisbury

Do you have a story about the Russian spies scandal - did you know Sergei Skripal or were you in Salisbury when he was attacked? Call our newsdesk on 020 7782 4103 or WhatsApp 07423 720 250 or email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk

By Olivia Loveridge-Greene and Ellie Cambridge

5th March 2018, 2:29 pm

Updated: 9th March 2018, 9:00 am

By Olivia Loveridge-Greene and Ellie Cambridge

Invalid Date,

AN ex-Russian spy who became an MI6 secret agent has been left fighting for his life in hospital after reportedly being poisoned.

Sergei Skripal - who was jailed in 2006 for spying for Britain - collapsed alongside a younger woman in The Maltings shopping area in Salisbury yesterday afternoon.

An Incident Response crew was called to deal with the substance found near the pair

He was granted refuge to the UK having been swapped for glamour spy Anna Chapman - who had previously lived in Britain and gained citizenship - in a “spy swap” between the US and Russia.

Skripal and the unnamed 33-year-old woman were rushed to Salisbury District Hospital in Wiltshire after suffering "chemical exposure". The substance is not yet known but cops will be probing whether they were deliberately poisoned.

Once they were admitted to hospital - where they continue to fight for their lives - A&E went into lockdown with a "major incident" declared as a special crew were called in to decontaminate the area.

Forensics and officers in hazmat suits could also be seen in the city centre after Skripal, 66, and the woman, 33, were found unconscious on a bench.

What we know so far:

Ex-KGB spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and a woman - believed to be his daughter - are in a critical condition in Salisbury after being exposed to an 'unknown substance'

Police are investigating a CCTV image which is believed to show the former double agent before the incident

A Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury has been cordoned off 'as a precaution'

Skripal and the woman were found slumped on a bench while one of them had vomited nearby

Reports say Skripal feared for his life after the death of his wife and son in car crashes

Skripal was jailed for 13 years in 2006 after being found guilty of sharing Russian state secrets to MI6

A number of other people are thought to have been treated at the scene amid fears they were exposed to the chemical - but officials say "less than ten people were affected".

A Zizi restaurant in Salisbury has been closed "as a precaution" in connection with the incident.

Eye witness Freya Church told the BBC the pair "looked so out of it" having found them on the bench.

She said: "On the bench there was a couple, an older guy and a younger girl. She was sort of leant in on him, it looked like she had passed out maybe.

"He was doing some strange hand movements, looking up to the sky.

"It looked like they had been taking something quite strong."

Who is Sergei Skripal?

Sergei Skripal was born on June 23 1951.

He was arrested in December 2004 after Russia accused him of passing on identifties of its spies onto the UK's Secret Intelligence Service MI6.

It claimed Skripal had been paid the $100,000 (£72,270) for the information which he had been supplying since in 1990s.

At the time he was serving in the Russian Ground Forces.

He was found guilty of 'high treason in the form of espinoage' and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

However he was released by Moscow in 2010 following a 'spy swap' deal made between the US and Russia.

Among the trade-off was glamour spy Anna Chapman.

Skripal was then flown to the UK and granted refuge.

Despite having kept a low profile for the last eight years the 66-year-old is now fighting for his life in hospital after reportedly being "poisoned".

He was jailed in 2006 for 13 years after being caught spying for Britain.

Russia claim Skripal had been paid $100,000 (£72,270) for passing on identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to MI6.

He was one of four prisoners released by Moscow in 2010 in exchange for 10 US spies.

Russia's then-president Dmitry Medvedev swapped Skripal for spy-turned-model Anna Chapman as part of a deal between Russia and the US.

Anna became a British citizen after having wed Brit husband Alex Chapman in 2002.

The pair divorced in 2006.

Do you have a story about the Russian spies scandal - did you know Sergei Skripal or were you in Salisbury when he was attacked? Call our newsdesk on 020 7782 4103 or WhatsApp 07423 720 250 or email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk.

There were fears from MI5 on whether the daughter of a former KGB agent could have spied on Britain during the time she lived in London.

She was arrested in America in 2010 and booted out of the country that year for espionage.

Having returned to Russia the red-haired agent posed for a Bond girl-esque cover for Maxim magazine.

After being pardoned Skripal was later flown to the UK where he was granted refuge.

A specialist chemical response unit removed the unknown substance from the area, wrapping it in several protective layers.

Police said the substance would be destroyed, along with the protective suits.

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A cordon was also placed around the entrance of the hospital, with security staff turning patients away.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "We are currently dealing with a major incident involving a small number of casualties, with a multi-agency response.

"It involves under ten people, but I cannot say any more."

The cordon at the hospital has now been lifted.

Chief Executive of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Cara Charles-Barks said: "In terms of the impact on the hospital we have been advising people today to attend routine operations and outpatient appointments unless they are contacted by the hospital.

"We are askign local epople to use the walk in centre on Avon Approach for non emergency conditions."